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THE KONECKY
MARCH 2019
JOURNAL
561.671.5995 | 954.272.6187 | www.matthewkoneckypa.com 110 SE 6th Street, Suite 1700, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 4440 PGA Blvd, Suite 600, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410
Is It Time to Spring-Clean Your Record?
M arch is the month many people turn their But when it comes to spring-cleaning, there’s one area you may not often think about — your record. This might be your criminal record, your driving record, or any record in the public space that can be accessed by employers, property managers, and many others. It is possible to clean these records and ensure they are up-to-date and reflect your current standing. For instance, you may be able to have certain records sealed or expunged. And the earlier you do it, the better. The process of cleaning up your record can often take upward of a year to complete. So, if you’re going after a promotion, getting a new job, or renting a new place, it can be worth the effort to see what you can have removed from your record. It’s also a good idea to view any mugshots you may have on the internet. In many cases, if you’ve ever been booked and had booking photographs taken, those photos are available to the public online. Someone searching for you (again, for a job or a rental property) may find the photographs, and it could influence their decision to work with you. Thankfully, last year, the Florida State Legislature introduced a new law regarding mugshots from the internet. The statute, under Title XLVII Chapter 901.43, supports dissemination of arrest booking photographs. attention to spring-cleaning. They declutter their homes and get organized. It’s often a huge relief when you’re done because you have one less thing to think about, and you have more space.
In short, you or your attorney can have those photographs removed, and anyone who published the photographs cannot charge any kind of fee to have those images removed. Additionally, should the person or entity not comply, you may be able to take further legal action. Beyond that, it’s also a good time to clean up your driving record and any issues you have regarding your driver’s license. If you have any outstanding fines, get them settled so you can avoid having your license suspended — and if it already is, you can take steps to have it reinstated. Other things to keep in mind are license plate tags and auto insurance. Do you need to renew your car registration? Police are always on the lookout for anyone driving with expired tags. And when it comes to auto insurance, spring is the perfect time to make sure you’re up-to-date on your coverage. Read through your policy, and if there is anything you aren’t sure about, ask for more information. Get clarification from your insurer — or you can even come to me (see Page 2 for more details). You never want to be out on the road without knowing what your insurance covers.
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Spring-cleaning is all about getting things in your life back in order so you can be prepared for the year ahead!
–Matthew Konecky
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The Right Way to Donate After Spring-Cleaning Donate With Care
Spring is in the air, and it’s time to celebrate with another round of spring- cleaning. Banish the clutter and make room in your life for something new! Many charities see a sharp increase in donations as spring-cleaning season starts. Donating your used books, kids’ toys, and gently worn clothing allows your old items to have a second life. However, when filling that donation box, make sure you’re donating each item because it can do good and not just because you feel bad about throwing it away. Charities have a big problem with well-meaning citizens dropping off items that are better left in the trash. There are many items charities simply cannot handle. Most charities will have lists of items they can and cannot accept on their websites. Some items that you should not donate include:
These items may be unsafe to sell, costly to ship, or impossible to refurbish effectively. When a charity regularly receives items they cannot use, they
have to spend hours of manpower sorting through things that end up in the trash anyway. This process can be expensive for organizations with already-strained resources. Some local charities spend over $1,000 a year on dumpster and trash removal fees for unusable donations. While charities will have no choice but to throw unusable donations in the trash, there are services you can use to make your spring-cleaning eco- friendly, even for items you can’t donate. For example, if you have torn or stained blue jeans, reach out to Blue Jeans Go Green. This program keeps denim out of landfills by turning it into insulation. And while Goodwill can’t take your batteries or old flip phone, you can check out Call2Recycle.org to learn how to safely recycle your e-waste. A FREE Consult Just for You! YourAuto Insurance Policy Decoded Unfortunately, too many insurance agents are only interested in selling you a policy. They will tell you what you want to hear so you’ll sign on the dotted line and move on. A lot of agents don’t sit down with their clients to discuss all the details of their policy. Your donations can be a big help to local charities. Just don’t “donate” your garbage.
• Expired medications • Old TVs • Cribs • Loose remote controls • Personal care items, like soap, shampoo, or makeup
• Mattresses • Carpets • Tangled cords or phone chargers • Any broken, damaged, or dirty items
Do you know all the details of your auto insurance policy?
The startling truth is that a lot of people don’t.
One of the worst things that can happen during your personal injury case is to experience the terrifying realization that you don’t have the right insurance or your policy is too limited. Even worse, maybe the other person doesn’t have insurance at all. I’ve blogged and written in this newsletter about the importance of underinsured motorist coverage. Despite this, a lot of people discover the pitfalls of lacking this insurance only after they’ve been in an accident.
I don’t want this to happen to you.
This month, I’m inviting you or anyone you know with auto insurance questions to come into our office for a free meeting. I’ll take a look at your coverage and tell you exactly what you have, what you don’t have, and what you need.
Contact us at 561.671.5995 to schedule your FREE auto insurance policy consult today!
They tell me, “My insurance agent said I had full coverage. I thought this was included.”
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Don’t Let Your Teen Become a Statistic Keeping Juveniles Safe Behind the Wheel
Car accidents are the leading cause of death among teens in the U.S. In fact, about 35 percent of all teen deaths can be attributed to motor vehicle crashes. For example, in 2013 alone, 2,163 teens aged 16–19 died as a result of a car wreck. During that same time period, 243,243 teens were admitted to emergency rooms due to injuries sustained in wrecks. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that teens are the most at-risk group for motor vehicle crashes. Drivers ages 16–19 are about three times more likely to be involved in a fatal accident than those over 20. A lot of risk stems from inexperience behind the wheel and on the road. Teens are still learning how to handle unpredictability and how to interpret potentially dangerous situations. This can take the form of heavy traffic, navigating busy
and passengers are twice as likely to die in a car wreck over females in the same age group.
Teens Driving With Other Teens Just having other teen passengers in the car increases the risk of an accident and death. They can be distracting to the driver, which can cause a break in concentration. Newly-Licensed Teens The risk of a crash is notably higher during the first few months a teen gets his or her license. People at this stage typically have less parental supervision and are still very inexperienced. The best drivers have a lot of experience under their belt. Teens shouldn’t be discouraged from driving, but they should be aware of the risks that come with getting behind the wheel or into a car with their friends. Here are a few ways to make the driving safer. • Seat belts should always be worn. • Eliminate as many distractions as possible, including the radio, food, and phones. • No one should ever drive after consuming alcohol. • Parents should actively supervise their teen, even after the teen is licensed to drive, and instill good driving habits. How can we make roads safer for teens?
or confusing streets, or dealing with poor road conditions. These are some of the most at-risk groups among teens:
Teen Males The CDC reports that male drivers
MEME CORNER
Vegan Banana Nut Muffins Cooking With Ashley
Dry ingredients: •
•
1/4 cup light oil (such as canola or vegetable)
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• • • •
3/4 cup white sugar
• •
1 tablespoon lemon juice 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Add ins: •
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 medium ripe banana cut into chunks 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans, plus extra for sprinkling on top
Wet ingredients: •
•
2 medium ripe bananas, mashed
•
3/4 cup nondairy milk
Directions
1. Heat oven to 400 F. Lightly grease muffin pan or fill with nonstick liners. 2. In a large bowl, mix together dry ingredients. 3. In a medium bowl, mix together wet ingredients. Add the wet into the dry, and mix until it’s just starting to come together. Be careful not to over mix. Add in chopped banana and nuts, and give it 3–4 more stirs. 4. Divide the batter evenly among all muffin cups and finish by sprinkling extra nuts on top (optional). Bake for 22–26 minutes until muffins have risen, are golden brown on the edges, and a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean. Let cool for at least 10 minutes before enjoying.
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Recipe courtesy of Sam Turnbull
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INSIDE 561.671.5995 | 954.272.6187 www.matthewkoneckypa.com 4440 PGA Blvd, Suite 600 Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410
page 1
What You Can Do to Spring-Clean Your Record
page 2
Why Charities Hate Spring-Cleaning
page 2
Free Consultation!
page 3
Road Safety for Teens
page 3
Vegan Banana Nut Muffins
page 4
Celebrate Dr. Seuss
Who Was Theodor Geisel? On March 2, Read Across America Day is celebrated by students, teachers, and community members in towns throughout the country. They chose that date to pay homage to one of the most beloved children’s authors who was born that day: Theodor Geisel. That name may sound unfamiliar to you, but “Dr. Seuss” should ring a few bells. His name alone is so associated with literacy that in 2007, the author of an article in U.S. News &World Report that chronicled the history of 1957 — the year “The Cat in the Hat” was published —wrote, “Greece had Zeus —America has Seuss.” In 2001, Publisher’s Weekly released a list of the bestselling hardcover children’s books of all time in the U.S. Of the books in the top 100, Seuss authored 16, which is more than any other author on the list by a long shot. But Seuss did not break into the children’s literature industry easily.
than a dozen publishers. Legend has it that Seuss was on his way home to burn the manuscript when he ran into an old friend who suggested another publisher. The rest is history. Given the enthusiasm for reading Dr. Seuss has fostered in children for the past eight decades, it’s no wonder the National Education Association chose his birthday to mark a day dedicated to celebrating reading. After all, he’s often quoted as saying, “You’re never too old, too wacky, too wild, to pick up a book and read with a child.”
Seuss and his nearly 50 children’s books almost never got off the ground. His first children’s book, “And to Think I Saw It on Mulberry Street,” was denied by more
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